Igbo Fatherhood and peace building in the family: A Study of Nkamigbo’s Play ‘Agha Di’
Conference: The 23rd Annual International Conference of the Igbo Studies Association (ISA) (2026)
Presenter(s): Ihechi Nkoro
Presentation Date: May 14, 2026 @ 15:35 PM
Abstract
To the Igbo, the journey from childhood to adulthood calls for determination, resilience, and persistence. The home is significant in that struggle as encapsulated in the Igbo proverb “Ana esi n' ụlọ mara mma pụọ ama,” that is to say, “charity begins at home.” The family occupies a central position in interpersonal relations and is not exempt from conflicts. When conflicts are resolved in good time, domestic and global peace will multiply and lead to sustainable development. This study focuses on Igbo fatherhood and peacebuilding in the family from a literary perspective. The data for the study are drawn from Linda Nkamigbo's 21st-century Igbo play Agha Dị, published in 2015. The study adopts the sociological approach to literary conversation as presented by Kennedy and Dana Gioia (2005). Our chosen approach to the study of literature conceives of literature as a tool for social change. The study's methodology is content analysis based on a thematic exposition of the play, focusing on the role of a father in building peace among siblings. Other references for the study include White (2008), Metres (2010), Nwokoye (2018), Nkoro (2020), Nwizu and Frank (2024), Huang, Chazan-Cohen and Carlson (2024), Flowers and Coyne (2025).
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